Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Oct. 22, 1987, edition 1 / Page 4
Part of The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
I Opinion Page THE BRUNSWICK^BEACON / Ktluani M. Surall aiil (iarolyit M. S%\ca(t I^ithtisiwrs Kfiuanl M. Suoalt lulitnr Susan I slu r Ncivi llditor Hahn Adaitis X I)ouj» Hiitti'r Stuff Hritrrs Johnny Crai#; Sports Mitor Christine Hallnii Offivo Munufivr .*eelln (iore Susan Hnrehiol. . idvvrtisiitfi livprvsvniiitit'fs I anitnie (>alhnvay A Dorothy Krennan Typosotlvrs Koherl W illiains frossmun Hreiula Cleiniiions t*hoto Tvvhniriun l.onnie Sprinkle.. /Ve.s.sm./n Cl)cle ainl !^iattie Stout. I’hoelu' ('lennmms ('.imtlution It's My Turn Now lo laik hoofbaii Thursday. October 22.1987 Mind What The Man Says, Vern Listen up, fellas. Ernest P. Worrell is pushing more than milk these days; his humor may get across what sermons and nagging have not. Ernest is the popular Southern redneck created by actor Jim Varney for Pine State Creamery Co. With the dairy com pany’s cooperation, the comic character is now promoting cleanup and beautification efforts for Keep N.C. Clean and Beautiful Inc. In a SO-scCOiiu television spot ent'tlpd “War on Weeds” Ernest reminds us that trash abounds in our communities and along our roads and that it’s time for North Carolinians to clean up their act. “Know what I mean, Vern?” he says. Yep. Wooden Ducks Beat Pop Guns Anytime •*Hoink!*' Tfiat was one of the many si>»hU» and sounds I will long remember from the recent N.C. Oyster Festival at Seaside—my first Oyster Festival. I’ve gone to all sorts of festivals over the years, most of them in the western part of the stale, but the Oyster Festival was one of tlie most Still, every festival has its oddities. .My hometown holds what’s called the Historic Morganton Festival each year, even though I’ve yet to unders tand what’s ‘ historic’’ about block ing off the entire downtown for two days, just to sell ‘‘arts and crafts’ like wooden ducks that flap their feel when you roll them along the ground. rile city’s mayor, who also runs the festival, supposedly said he could estimate attendance by counting how many rolls of toilet paper were used in the porl-a-johns set up at strategic points around town. Personally. I’d rather count cars. In Valdese. it’s the Waldensian Fe.stival. also known as the Fe.slival of the (’ilorious Ueturn. which marks the history of the town’s founders, the Waldenses. an Italian religious sect. But the clo.sest thing 1 ever had lo a “religious” experience there was be ing thankful all I got was indigestion from eating loo much spicy Walden sian food. 1‘he Oyster Festival, on the other hand, was simple and to the point because the main focus, of course, was the oyster; “Any of several often edible bivalve mollusks with an ir regularly shaiK'd shell.” according to the dictionary. As I’ve .said before. I’m a beginner when It comes to oyster shucking: so instead of renting a knife and diving in. 1 chickened out and bought a cou ple of fried oyster plates fur my wife and me. But thanks to a man from Salisbury, who couldn’t finish off his entire crate of roasted oysters, we gut lo try uur hands at opening and Rahn Adams eating some of the little critters. He even loaned us his oi sler knife. As it turned out. 1 didn’t mind eating them at all-lhey lasted great. I just couldn't gel the shells open without stabbing my.^elf in the hand once or twice. By the lime we were finished eating, though, my wife thought she was a pro. and 1 had to talk her out of entering the shucking conlc.sl. “Boink!” There it was again. I’d been hearing that sound all afternoon at the festival and couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. It was everywhere—in the dining area, near the stage and around the crafts booths. It sounded like lawrence Welk's champagne lady gone wild. Then I spotted the culprit—a white, lube-shaped pop gun that apparently was one of the most popular .sales items at the festival. It seemed as though every child there had one. Just out of curiosity, my wife and I scouted out the crafts boollis to find the one selling the obnoxiotts little gadgets. It didn’t take us long to find the right booth, from the crowd of ex cited children and frazzled parents surrounding it. As we stood there, one mother bought at least five pop guns and handed them out lo her young.sters. “Don't shoot the nice man. Billy.” she scolded, just as the cork flew from the tulie with a “Ixiinkl” Oh. well 1 guess I deser\'ed worse for being nosy and saying bad things about ducks with flappy feet—at least they're harmle.ss. Now that we've heard from .Susan and Kahn on the subject of football. I figured it was my turn next. You may recall that Susan had previously described the trials and tribulations of becoming a football wife. This football-wife status, by the way. doesn’t become official until she’s watched seven hours of non- .stop football action, including half time analysis shows, consecutive NFt' and/or AFC' playoff games and survived a Super Sunday. .And with the strike this year, she will most likely have to reapply next year anyway. And then Hahn, ble.ss liis soul, ex- pres.sed the disenchantment of millions of red-blootled American males when confronted with a fall Sunday without “real" football. With this emotional outcry behind us. I am prepared to take an analytical approach to this whole Doug Rutter .Strike situation. First of all, I would like to say that 1 am in favor of the owners’ position against the unlimited type of free agency which the players are asking for. It is my feeling, and I think the feel ing of many others, that the players should be grateful for what they have now. They argue that the average player only stays in the NFL for 3.2 years «or .something like thati and that in that time has to earn enough income to last the rest of his life. Well, if that Is the situation they are getting themselves into, then it is their own fault. As far as I’m con cerned. the average NFL salary of about $200,000 Ls more than enough for anyone who plays a game for a living. Other NFL veterans have proven that there is life after football. John Brodie. Ahmad Ha.shad. Jimmy Cefalo. and a host of former players have all gone on to become respec table sportsca.stcrs. and I dare .say the majority of NFL veterans have found success in other business areas. So the argument that NFL players need more money NOW just doesn’t hold water as far as I’m concerned. With this in mind. I believe strong ly that these “scab” games should he countetl as normal contests. The only bargaining power the owners have right now is due to the success of the “scab” games. If they didn’t count as regular games, it is very unlikely that the fans would watch them. If the fans don’t watch them, the networks won’t televise them. If the networks don’t televise them, the owners lose millions of dollars in TV contracts and almost have to invite the players back by meeting their demands. So, with all of this digested, 1 say “Long live the scabs.” They play with more intensity, create turnovers for a more exciting game and are happy to play for the minimum NFL salary. Even if my New York Jets "scabs” were d-2 after last week’s whipping, they make losing look a lot better than the “profe.s.sional” Jets. A Most welcome awd uom^ overdue. f LETTERS TO THE EDITOR En/oys Reading About Experiences Of Others To the editor: My wife Loretta and I enjoyed reading. “(letling Passport Was Toughest Part Of Trip To Ireland,” in the Oct. 15 issue of the Beacon. On two occasions we also had the same experiences. .After long waiting for pas.sports, we landed at Shannon Air port The first lime was lo celebrate my 75lh birthday and the next, four years later, we were guests of i * youngest brother who made it my 80th birth day gift. The four of us. my brother’s wife included, stopped at the .Salt Hotel on Galway Bay where we enjoyed their excellent oysters. We then had more seafood at a well known seafood specially hou.se in the city. All were indeed excellent. We enjoyed travel through the countryside, as on each trip my wife I.orctUi. then my brother respective ly, would drive the Fords on the •‘wrong’’ side of the "Carriageways.” and the places to pull off the highways were “I^ybycs." We stopped to ask an old Irish gentleman how to gel lo Dublin. In a most friendly way and with his big broad smile, he said. "Well, if I was to go to Dublin. I wouldn’t start from here.” In Du’uiin we asked for combina tion sandwiches at a lunch counter. Served to us were two sandwiches in stead of one. Ham was one; the other Swiss. We climbed the Blarney Stone at the old castle where I bought a tin flute and proceeded to play “Paddy Dear" and "Miss Mclxmd's Keel.” Back in 1917 I was one of 30 fifers who were members of a cadet corps that played up New York's Fifth Avenue In the Preparedness Parade prior to World War I. Showing off? Sure! It was fun. Our President then. Woodrow Wilson, was on the review ing stand and we played “Our Direc tor” as we passed by. I think it would be great it a life and drum and bugle corps would be form ed locally. It helped me, as well as many other boys, by having compe tent instructors teach these, not too difficult to learn, musical in- strumenls. as well as the precision march drills. Togetherness, and to be able to lead the line of mareh becomes part of the learning process for youngsters. To get back to Ireland, and par ticularly to Galway. We were so hap py lo hear about Cathy Carlisle suc cessfully competing against men and bringing honors to this great seafood area, as well as to herself and family. It takc.s courage as well as e.x- perience. I was raised at my father’s boat marini and fishing station on Long Island. As a schoolboy my dad would shuck oysters and open clams in tho great Fulton Fish Market in New York. In the much talked aiwut bliz zard of 1888 he had to walk many miles via the sandy shoreline to reach his home many miles from the railroad .station. He had meat and fish in a burlap bag for his mother. Many years later I established a seafood cannery on the shore of the Chincoteague Bay in Virginia, and lost everything to the tidal wave of the 50s. With our four sons, my wife and I went to Delray Reach on I* loridn’s gold coast, where we established the Clam Box Seafood Ke.stauranl and Raw Bar, and served folks from all parts of the world. On our honeymoon in 1935 we discovered Calabash, and decided to join the rest of those who enjoy the seafood and the hospitality of the .southland. I believe that now one can unders tand why we also enjoy the ex periences of others, like Cathy Carli sle, and Carolyn a.nd Eddie Sweatt. I'm ready for more oysters, too. How about you? Earl Markland Calabash Brain Can Only Absorb What Seat Can Endure To the editor: While distributing unofficial listings I which had been requested by some Holden Beach candidates for commissionen of new voters which 1 had copied from the public records at Bolivia. I have Iwen asked why there might be any value in a se cond meeting of candidates when they may present their views at a public forum. My rc.sponse is 11 i it’s possible that ever>'one couldn't attend the "Meet the Candidates” meeting .sponsored Taking A Golf Cart Path To Nowhere? I’haiuf.s are \ou ve never gotten lost on a golf course. It’s just not the kind of thing that happen.s to mo.st pi’ople. Bui I'm not ino.si people. And I got lost It was all rny fault. You .see. go ing out last i’hur.sday mglil was my idea, even thougli Don suggested the location. Dun and I didn't go to the course near onr home to play golf, of course, rhough he oc’casionallN talks about trying the game again, he .sold his clubs earlier this year to a co-worker. I’ve played twice in iny life, both times with di.sastrous results to my ego and the greens. But biking «>r walking through a golf course late of an evening is one of tile mo.st relaxing Hungs we Susan Usher know-sun.set falling over the lakes and water haz«ird.s. lights giiminer- ing from inside cozy liomes. the rhvihinic swish of .sprinklers ac- tivaleil each evening. .Sometimes we .stick lo the roads, but last Thursday evening we were feeling adventurous. esjH*cially me It was late when we started out. I talked Don into pretty innch sticking lo llie curving carl pallis. And when dusk eame. I urged him forward in stead of back, reminding him the while-roeked patlis would show our way. Ever accomnuxiating. he shrugged and agreed, not pressing the ilmibts he already harbored. Three intersections later. I was still leading us somewhere, though I may never know where, taking a maintenanee trail onto an isolated green lhal I had figured was just behind our house in a rare of aiixicty, 1 admit ted defeat. “You're sure no geographer, ’ .said Don. He didn’t have to remind me that he had ma jored in geography as an umlergrad. After lioiiblmg back, with tmr dachshund and Hie neighbor’s ein ker .spaniel still .sniffing and bouncing ahead, behind and around us, wc decided it was time to act decisively. Spotting a .street that looked halfway familiar, we daringly look a shortcut across a nice yard with a big dog, calling, ’‘It’s ju.st us!” Two more turns and suddenly we were where I had meant to be a half- hour earlier, near the hou.se with the school bus. We charged through the woods, drawn like magnets lo the lights from our back porch ju.sl one virnni Mini-adventures are fun. the walk was invigorating, and maybe, just mayl», we weren’t really lost. So wliy, after an absence of only an liour ur so. did it feel so goul to .see uur house again'.' by the Holden Beach Property Owners Association Oct. 20. for whatever reason il don't understand why HBFOA didn't have a reminder news release in last week’s Beacon; and several of the candidates told me Saturday that they lial not yet l>een informed of the formal of the meeting and did 1 know an\thing about iti; and i2) during the next two years, the commissioners will be in volved with such items as access, cau.seway. emergency services, ero sion. home occupations, impact fee. occupancy tax. parking, rezoning, right-of-way, tax districts, walkway/bike bath, wastewater di.spasal. you name it - surely, more topics than anyone wcmld want to hear discussed at a single meeting. Futher. if Meet the Candidates is. in fact, ju.st a “beauty pageant," or if a voter already knows all whey want lo know. I wonder why it’s nece.ssary to have even a single meeting, except lo visit with each othi.-r, if ail nine caiaiidate.'t for coinmi.s- sioner were to attend, .six inimiles apiece would account for 5-1 iiiinutes-wliich, with mlnxliiclion.s. .some extra lime to complete .some thoughts, and lime for the audience lo phra.se their que.stions. and maybe a follow-up question, would make a full meeting. After all, the brain can only absorb what the seal can en dure. I believe there is an easy solution to the problem. If a candidate does not think it is to their interest to attend, they simply don’t attend. And judg ing by the sparse attendance at the monthly Town Commission meetings, I am not optimistic about how many voters will attend the Wednc.sday, Oct. 28 meeting at 7:30 p in. in the Town Hall. John M. Clarke Holden Beach Community Watch Hopes To Inform To the editor: .As president of the Holden Beach Cominiinily Watch, I have been ask ed why our group Is sponsoring a se cond meeting with the candidates for comini.s.sioncr. I feel the alternate date will give everyone more opportunity lo attend. Il Ls iny hope that C!oiniminity Watch will sei-\e to inform our residents of all coiiiinunity affairs. Arthur White Holden Beach
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 22, 1987, edition 1
4
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75